From the U.S. capture of the Mariana Islands, through the firebombing of Tokyo and the dropping of the atomic bomb, Victory in the Pacific: American Experience Monday at 8 p.m. chronicles the dreadful and unprecedented loss of life and the decisions made by leaders on both sides that finally ended the war.

The Cruiser Houston: Of Pride And Purpose, a historical account of the heavy cruiser USS Houston, focuses on events of the often overlooked early months of World War II in the Pacific, as well as the treatment of the prisoners of war at the hands of the Japanese in the following years at 10 p.m. Monday.

Every 48 years, an indigenous species of bamboo, blanketing 30 percent of Mizoram’s 8,100 square miles, blooms once every half-century, spurring an explosion in the rat population which feeds off the bamboo’s fruit. NOVA follows this gripping tale at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was leveled by one of the most devastating earthquakes in recorded history. Frontline arrived in Port-au-Prince within days, and in this powerful report, bears witness to the disaster at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

At the Bronx Center for Science & Mathematics, an innovative public high school in New York City’s South Bronx, Principal Edward Tom leads a dedicated group of teachers, students and parents to inspire new stories of achievement and excellence on Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Tavis Smiley examines the context of Dr. Martin Luther King’s words on liberty, responsibility and freedom and examine the implications of his words today on Tavis Smiley Reports at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Now a giant figure in his field, with such works as the John F. Kennedy Library, the east wing of the National Gallery, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Pyramid at the Louvre on his resume, I.M. Pei strives to bring nature to his work and join modern and tradition into a harmonious whole. Hear his story on American Masters at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Showcased on Great Performances at 9 p.m. Wednesday, the five movements of the Opus Jazz blend ballet, jazz, and ballroom with Latin, African, and American rhythms to create a style that remains expressive, sensual and contemporary.

Ben Harper debuts his new band, Relentless7, with a rocking set drawn from his album White Lies for Dark Times on Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Friday.

Actor Thomas Haden Church discusses his career on Texas Monthly Talks at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Downtown takes a look at downtown living and the concept of urban density.

Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, part one and two of the American Experience: Eyes on the Prize series, traces the civil rights movement from the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965 on Thursday at 8 p.m.

The ever-evolving Wilco returns to Austin City Limits, performing classics and cuts from its latest disk, Sky Blue Sky at 7 p.m. Saturday.